Srinagar: The ruling National Conference on Sunday announced senior party leader Agha Syed Mehmood as its candidate for the bypoll to the Budgam assembly segment in Jammu and Kashmir.
The bypoll will be held on November 11.
The BJP has named Aga Syed Mohsin as its candidate, while the PDP has fielded Aga Muntazir Mehdi for the seat, which has been traditionally dominated by Shia leaders.
National Conference’s candidate Mehmood is a senior Shia leader.
“On the directions of the party leadership, JKNC has announced Agha Syed Mehmood as the party’s candidate for the upcoming Budgam Assembly election. The party extends best wishes to him for a successful campaign in the service of the people of Budgam,” the National Conference posted on its X handle.
The PDP on Sunday said its candidate Mehdi will file his nomination papers on Monday.
In a post on X, the opposition party said, “PDP’s Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi sb will file his nomination papers for the Budgam Assembly by-election tomorrow at 12 PM.”
The other two candidates are also scheduled to file their nomination papers on Monday.
Budgam assembly seat fell vacant due to the resignation of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, as he decided to retain Ganderbal after successfully contesting from both seats.
The Nagrota assembly segment will also go to the polls on November 11. The seat fell vacant due to the death of BJP MLA Devinder Singh Rana after the elections last year. (PTI)
Muntazir Mohiuddin to contest Budgam Bypoll as independent
Muntazir Mohiuddin will file his nomination as an Independent candidate for the Budgam Assembly bypoll scheduled on November 11, sources said on Sunday.
Mohiuddin was under active consideration by the National Conference as its Budgam candidate, but the party ultimately fielded Agha Syed Mehmood, Sources told Kashmir News Service (KNS).
Omar Abdullah had reportedly suggested Mohiuddin’s name, but Farooq Abdullah insisted on a Shia candidate, leading Omar to walk out of the meeting, they added.
Muntazir Mohiuddin, a former trade union leader, had earlier supported Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Assembly elections. As the PDP candidate in 2014, he polled around 27,500 votes and lost to NC’s Agha Ruhullah by a margin of about 2,500 votes. He recently resigned from the Apni Party.
The bypoll for the Budgam seat will be held on November 11. (KNS)
